Published: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 11:09 a.m.

A motion for change of venue was filed on behalf of Perera, 45, who faces two felony charges, one of which is connected to the Northeast 22nd Avenue day care she once operated.

J. Melanie Slaughter, Perera's defense attorney, requested the change of venue because of recent Star-Banner stories about Perera and the day care.

She wrote that the articles "extensively discuss both her felony cases and the evidence law enforcement claims they have against her."

Perera was the subject of the Star-Banner's "Trail of Deception" series, which detailed the rise and fall of the once-<0x000A>successful day-care operator.

Slaughter also noted the Star-Banner also wrote about Perera's three misdemeanor drug paraphernalia possession cases, two of which have since been dropped.

"The pre-trial publicity in this matter will result in a violation of Ms. Perera's due process rights to a fair and impartial jury," the motion states.

Slaughter said she believes the trial should be held in another county in the Fifth Judicial Circuit, which covers Marion, Citrus, Lake, Sumter and Hernando counties.

The State Attorney's Office has objected to a change of venue. Circuit Judge Hale Stancil has not yet ruled.

The state dropped two of those three paraphernalia charges - one in December and the other in January - because Perera's friend, Ricky Watson, said he owned the crack pipes found on both occasions.

The third case, still pending, stems from an April arrest. She was picked up on a warrant for failing to appear in court, and Ocala police said they found drug paraphernalia in her van. This time Watson wasn't with her; she was alone.

Perera is scheduled for two July pre-trial hearings in her felony cases. She is accused of using a woman's personal finance information to install an $80,000 security system in Kids Zone USA, and of not paying a doctor for Botox treatments.

<p>An attorney for former Kids Zone USA day-care operator Chris Perera says her client cannot receive a fair trial in Marion County.</p><p>A motion for change of venue was filed on behalf of Perera, 45, who faces two felony charges, one of which is connected to the Northeast 22nd Avenue day care she once operated.</p><p>J. Melanie Slaughter, Perera's defense attorney, requested the change of venue because of recent Star-Banner stories about Perera and the day care.</p><p>She wrote that the articles "extensively discuss both her felony cases and the evidence law enforcement claims they have against her."</p><p>Perera was the subject of the Star-Banner's "Trail of Deception" series, which detailed the rise and fall of the once-&lt;0x000A&gt;successful day-care operator.</p><p>Slaughter also noted the Star-Banner also wrote about Perera's three misdemeanor drug paraphernalia possession cases, two of which have since been dropped.</p><p>"The pre-trial publicity in this matter will result in a violation of Ms. Perera's due process rights to a fair and impartial jury," the motion states.</p><p>Slaughter said she believes the trial should be held in another county in the Fifth Judicial Circuit, which covers Marion, Citrus, Lake, Sumter and Hernando counties.</p><p>The State Attorney's Office has objected to a change of venue. Circuit Judge Hale Stancil has not yet ruled.</p><p>The state dropped two of those three paraphernalia charges - one in December and the other in January - because Perera's friend, Ricky Watson, said he owned the crack pipes found on both occasions.</p><p>The third case, still pending, stems from an April arrest. She was picked up on a warrant for failing to appear in court, and Ocala police said they found drug paraphernalia in her van. This time Watson wasn't with her; she was alone.</p><p>Perera is scheduled for two July pre-trial hearings in her felony cases. She is accused of using a woman's personal finance information to install an $80,000 security system in Kids Zone USA, and of not paying a doctor for Botox treatments.</p><p><i>Contact Joe Callahan at joe.callahan@starbanner.com.</i></p>